Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Identity
- Identity: Our true identity comes from the Father. Only when our identity comes from God can we be obedient in ways that satisfy our person to our core.
Paul writes that the “wages of sin is death.” We know that the temptations of the world do
not lead to genuine happiness. We teach
and preach that we should follow God and His ways. Academically, we know this is truth. Emotionally, we know what we should be
doing. But isn’t it hard to do it?
I think that is one of the reasons that I find the story of Balaam
so intriguing. Yes, there is a talking
donkey. Talking donkeys make every story
more interesting. But what really gets
my attention in this passage is Balaam’s intrigue with respect to the request
from Balak.
The first time Balak’s men come to Balaam, Balaam shows
wisdom. He inquires of the Lord. He gets a very clear answer. At this moment in time, his identity is clear.
However, the second time that Balak’s men come to him, Balaam is
not quite so quick to get his identity from the Lord. Balaam goes back to the Lord. He forgets that initial answer and goes back
to the Lord just to make sure. Balaam’s
heart is lured by the fame and wealth that Balak promises to Balaam. He’s suddenly not as interested in God’s
identity for him as much as he is interested in the identity that Balak could
give to him.
The temptation of the world is strong, isn’t it? We can say what we know is the correct
answer. But it is often difficult to
live our true identity over the identity of the world.
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